Father Knows Last: Rate this episode

[Johanna]

Rate "Father Knows Last" on a scale from 1-10 and share your thoughts on this episode.

[Johanna]

David could fill up a whole episodes just doing speeches like this one... aah. at least I would be intrigued. Of course I'm talking/writing about when David follows Mr Hayes onboard the plane to convince him he's serious about Maddie. I'm convinced

I also like the fact that Mrs Hayes had figured out that David could be involved in the baby-business.

Ooh, and it feels like a happy ending! Now work, and pay!

[rose35]

I love love love this episode. Bruce was so amazing as David in it. The speech on the plane kills me every time. Also i wondered how both Maddie's parents figured out the baby was probably David's. Is it from the things Maddie may have said over the years about David to her parents or did they really think David was someone she would go for? Her parents were really cool though.

[haddie mayes]

I will give this episode an 8 ,why? because of that fantastic tear jerking - lump in throat speech and also the great performances from the actors who play Maddies parents( i do know know they names but i can`t think of them offhand right now though).

I have wondered about that too , i mean considering that Maddies parents only ever met him twice (well at least thats how often the writers wrote them into an episode any way). Maybe the writers wanted to give us the impression that Maddie had given her parents some signs that her feelings for David weren`t purely platonic. Either way it was kinda romantic that both Virginia and Alex came to the same conclusion that the baby most probably was Davids, i don`t think Maddies father would have flown half way across America if he wasn`t sure.
And i also absolutely LOVE the speech that David gives to Alex on the plane, i know that they are just words from a script but it really comes across as though Bruce/David is saying them from his heart. and i `m sure if you look closely you can see tears welling up in his eyes! I just melt everytime -with a speech like that i would have married him if he had asked me , i still can`t believe that Maddie would have said no but that is probably for debate on another thread maybe?.

[lin212]

This is my favorite episode from Season 4. Bruce's performance is magnificent in the scenes with Maddie's father. He also does an outstanding job with the two scenes in the bathroom - no words, just the expression on his face. He is at his lowest at this point and he does a wonderful job conveying it.

[mlbestshowever]

What can I say? I gave this episode a ten - the speech on the plane is just incredibly amazing. You want to shed a few tears too if you hear and see David suffer. Bruce did a magnificent job here.

[babyhayes]

I gave this a 10 because it is one of the few times we really see David without that spring in his step, without his little strut and instead you can see his genuine, raw emotion. As said by everyone else, Bruce is awesome in this episode and THAT speech is a tear-jerker. The other scene that I find so powerful is back in the office where Agnes loses it with David after his "dumb blonde" comment. Again Agnes does what the viewer wants to do - give David a big kick up the backside and get him to sort things out.

Also big thumbs up to Eva Marie Saint and Robert Webber, perfect as Maddie's parents. In fact, in this episode it never occurs to me Bruce and Cybill aren't onscreen together - the chemistry between Cybill/Eva and Bruce/Robert keep the tension zipping along, it's just a different kind of tension!

[Veronica]

omg I love this episode!!! Bruce was absolutely amazing!
I voted 10.

[graycav56]

Gang, I loved this episode.

On its first go around, I felt like I was living the entire show from Dave's perspective. Interestingly enough, on this viewing, 20 years after the fact, I seemed more comfortable looking at it from Maddie's DAD's shoes. Amazing what a couple of decades can do for you.

It was probably Bruce's best bit of acting of the series, and the chemistry between him and Robert Webber was teriffic.

[honeyblondenoggin]

I just watched this episode (again!) last night. The speech alone warrants it a 10.

As for Maddie's parents assuming David to be the father, I never doubted it. I guess that's because in "Every Daughter's Father is a Virgin" David (to me) came across as much more than your ordinary co-worker. And he even went to dinner with "the family" (even though I think Maddie's parents invited him to come along, if this was an ordinary co-worker relationship, David should have declined). That, coupled with things that can be assumed that Maddie had told her parents over the years, would at least plant the seed in their minds that Maddie and David had more than a professional, business relationship.

Ah, I could just watch that speech over and over again!

[davnee]

I'll give this one a 9.5 for the power of the speech and the great performances all around. It is really great that both Maddie's parents assume David is the dad. And I love that Mr. Hayes goes roaring off to LA with a shotgun in his pocket (wasn't that the original name of the episode?). David's great speech kind of overshadows all the other good stuff in the episode, including a nice Agnes jab at irresponsible David and the wonderful Chicago scenes between Maddie and her mom. Upon rewatching the season, I've just been blown away at how well done and powerful the Chicago scenes were. It is too bad that they didn't do more with Maddie's perspective this season.

I rated the show just short of a 10 because the whole proposal confusion irritated me a great deal then and now. If they were going to write the show as a soap opera now, and as they had been doing since Blonde on Blonde in the 3rd season, they needed to be more consistent and disciplined with the writing to ensure continuity. They messed up with the lovemaking "I love you," now the proposal, and soon we'd get the most galling inconsistency with the conception date confusion. Obviously they were making script decisions at the last moment which meant that the stories weren't always going to be consistent. But to confuse us and tease us on the big things like love declarations, marriage and the paternity of the baby is really poor.

[maddieaddisonjr]

Mrs. Hayes and Maddie talking about the pregnancy and Mrs. Hayes' wonderful motherly support.

Maddie saying “Daddy” and Mr. Hayes hugging her.

Robert Webber and Eva Marie Saint were just awesome. I wish we had seen more of them.

Bert trying to keep the Blue Moon employees from leaving. (“No work and pay!” *L*)

David and Mr. Hayes.

David’s heartfelt speech of course!

A definite *9*. It can’t be a 10 for me because there’s no David/Maddie moments and I so wish Maddie could have heard that man’s speech and seen his face.

Very well done all around.

[nazel]

Ok, I've never been a romantic, I've always thought love speeches were lame, but man! Bruce really convinced me, that was a really really good performance, did he get an emmy for it ?? cause he should've ! & Agnes what's going on with her this season! she's amazing! I used to think she was okay, but now I'm a big fan of hers, the angry speech at the office was incredible .. Although this seems like a whole new show, cause I liked ML for the comedy, I have to admit this episode was amazing, I gave it a 9 .. Just cause I'm still mad at Maddie for not seeing how right David is for her, what's wrong with women!!!!

[bluemoonshampoo]

I gave this a solid 10 purely for BRUUUUUCCCEEEE! Wow - his best acting of the whole series. I hang on every word of his speech to Alexander Hayes- and it always brings a tear to my eyes.

[myfairdavid]

Mar 11, 2011 10:50:26 GMT -5 bluemoonshampoo said:

I gave this a solid 10 purely for BRUUUUUCCCEEEE! Wow - his best acting of the whole series. I hang on every word of his speech to Alexander Hayes- and it always brings a tear to my eyes.

I agree, BMS!!! Bruce's VERY BEST acting on the show. He really shines in this one.